Chromometer



Sept-l9, 1950 i s. M.. ROOKYARD 2,522,723

' CI-IROMOMETER Filed Oct 15, 1948 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Irzzren 55- .5.fi fiv 1 @QMM Sept. 19, 1950 s. M. ROOKYARD T 2,522,723

CHROMOMETER Filed Oct. 15, 1948 4 Sheets-Shet a v Sept. 19, 1950 s,MRQQKYARD 2,522,723

CHROMOMETER Filed Oct. 13, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q I'I I 425 13%lnmnfar' 3 -11 CP WV' Stan l Mfaok z ard Patented Sept. 19, 1950 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE Introduction This invention relates to colourblending and matching apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus ofthis nature that includes indexing means whereby the value of eachprimary colour making up a complex colour is visually indicated on aquantitative scale.

The present development is primarily designed to facilitate the work ofcolour engravers, gravure and offset workers, in securing with the leastpossible efiort in a printed reproduction the exact density and shade ofcolour as required to match a part or whole of an original, but may alsobe used for other purposes which are analogous.

Reproductions of this nature are produced by a series of printingplates, letter press, planographic, intaglio, or otherwise prepared, totake the correct amount of ink of a basic colour, which when the platesare printed successively over the same area produces on the printedsheet the correct shade of compound colour required, Usually in work ofthis nature, three printing plates, each adapted to carry one of theprimary co1ours are employed, and the preparation of these plates sothat the correct amount of each colour will be carried and subsequentlytransferred from each plate in the printing is a job that involvesconsiderable trial and error correction even when these operations areperformed by a skilled craftsman.

The present invention aims to provide a colour selection and blendingapparatus that not only provides a means whereby primary colours may beblended to match any desired compound colour or shade, but also providesindicating means whereby the value of each primary colour is given.

Applicants development The invention is embodied in an apparatus thatcomprises in combination, a housing on which there is mounted a controlpanel having a viewing window. A plurality of moveable elements aremounted within the housing, and each of the elements are divided intoSections representing a relative percentage of a particular coloursuperimposed on a transparent ground. The moveable elements are arrangedwithin the housing so that one section of each element overlaps asection of each of the other elements in superimposed relationship in afield of view covered by the viewing window in the control panel.Separate element moving means are provided so that the in dividualsections of each element may be moved in selective register beneath theviewing window,

13 Claims. (01. 35- 285) Controlling means associated with the movingmeans are mounted on the control panel, and in combination with suitableindexin numerals on the control panel, are adapted to visually indicatethe relative position of each section of each element in register withthe viewing window. Means are also provided so that the selected groupof element sections may be raised from the normal plane of travel to aposition directly adjacent the viewing window. Locking means associatedwith the element lifting means are adapted to lock the moveable colourbearing elements in selected register so that the density value of eachselected section of each of the elements, as may be selected to form acomplex colour or shade, may be ascertained.

Preferred arrangement According to a more specific aspect of theinvention the preferred apparatus includes a casing in which theapparatus is housed. A cover plate is fastened on the casing and forms acontrol panel on which a plurality of controlling knobs are mounted. Anopening in the control panel is covered by a transparent disk to providea viewin window and radially spaced apart numerals are inscribed on thepanel about each of the control knobs. A plurality of moveable colourcarrying elements comprising transparent disks are mounted for rotationon shafts within the casing and are rotated by means of the controlknobs mounted on the control panel. These disks are marked off so as toeach constitute a plurality of radially divided segments extending fromthe centre portion to adjacent the outer periphery of the disk. Each ofthe disks bears one of the primary colours, i. e. yellow, red, blue andblack, and each segment is coloured to a graduate density percentage ofthe particular colour of the disk.

The disks are mounted within the casing so that a segment of each diskoverlaps a segment of each of the other disks in a field of view coveredby the viewing window in the control panel. This arrangement allows thedisks to be rotated by the control knobs so that any segment of eachdisk can be placed in superimposed register with the viewin window inorder that the primary colours carried by the disks may be blended toform any desired complex shade or colour.

The numerals on the control panel are positioned relative to thecorresponding percentage of density on the segments of each individualdisk actuated by each control knob, so that the position of the controlknobs are thus adapted to indicate the percentage value of each of theprimary colours used in making up a compound colour.

In order that the true value of each of the primary colours making up acompound colour may be more closely ascertained a lift piston orelevator is pivotally mounted within the casing and is adapted, whenactuated by a control knob mounted on-the .controlpanel, to: raise theselected segments of the colour disks to a position directly adjacentthe viewing window. Preferably the top of the lift piston carries a padof sponge rubber or other resilient material so that the disk portionsare slightly bowed in a convex manner and are thus squeezed into closerproximity withtheviewing window.

The shafts on which the colour disks are mounted are each geared torotate an auxiliary shaft mounted adjacent thereto. These auxiliaryshafts also carry an additional toothedgear and locking meansconnectedzto and actuated by the lift piston actuating mechanism isadapted to engage these gears and .lock the colour disks in theirselected position. Preferably the locking means comprise rotatablymounted lever arms resiliently connected to and rotated by a lever armforming part of the lift piston actuating mechanism. The lever .armscarry extended locking pins that are-adapted to engage the teeth of thegears carried by .the auxiliary shaft. In this arrangement, when thelift iston control knob .is actuated to raise any selected segments tothe viewing window for inspection, the lever arms are simultaneouslyrotated and the locking pins thus lock-the toothed gears of theauxiliary shafts and the associated disk bearing geared shafts in thepositions selected prior to the actuation of the lift piston. When it isdesired to change :therelative positions of the colour disks for furtherblending, .the release of the lift piston alsoadisengages the lockingpins and the disks are again free for rotation by their respectivecontrolling knobs.

Alternative preferred arrangement An alternative construction :is alsocontemplated in which the colour bearing disks .are replaced byelongated bands of transparent film carrying the necessary primarycolours. In this arrangement each of the bands is divided transverselyinto sections, each of the sections being coloured to have a densityequal to a graduated percentage of the solid colour of the band similarto the arrangement on the disks.

Preferably the-bands. and the associated mechanism are housed in acasing similar to that used for housing the disks. The cover plate andcontrolling knobs are also substantially the :same, the indexing scalesand viewing window being located in the same relative positions. Themain differerence of the alternative arrangement is the colour bandsthemselves and the mechanism employed to move them into and out ofregister with the viewing window.

In this apparatus each of the .colour bands .is mounted .on and is movedbetween a pair of rollers, .one of the rollers being an actuated orwinding roll and .the other being a resiliently controlled or rewindingroll. The winding rollers are each mounted on a horizontal shaftsupported for rotation on brackets within the casing. Each of thehorizontal shafts is geared to a Vertical shaft rotatably'mounted withinand extending to a position outside of the casing. The vertical shaftsare directly connected to and actuated by direction.

The winding and rewinding rolls are preferably arranged within thecasing in pairs, the individual hands ofzeachipairlheing arranged sothat they will travel in parallel planes one above the other.

The pairs of'bands are arranged within the casingso that one pairnormally travels in a slightly higher horizontal plane than the other,and the lower pair of bands is adapted to move transversely across theapparatus with the upper pair crossing over the lower bands at rightangles to their travel. It is also contemplated, in this respect, thatthese positions may be reversed and that the upper pair may be movedtransversely across the apparatus with the lower pair crossing over.

This arrangement allows the colour bands to be moved in eitherdirection, towards or away from the viewing window, with one section ofeach band meeting in-sup'erimposed relationship with a section of eachof the other bands in the field of view covered by the viewing window,and as the knob indicate the relative position of each section of thecolour bands in the same manner as the segmentsof the disks, thepercentage of colour of each of the sections as may be placed inregister to form a compound colour is thus visually indicated.

A lift piston similar to that employed inthe apparatus previouslydescribed is also included in this alternative arrangement, and isadapted to raise the selected sections of the colour bands to apos'itiondirectly adj acentxthe viewing window for inspection. Locking meansassociated with the lift piston actuating mechanism are also provided sothat the colour bands may be locked into selectedxposition when the liftpiston is actuated.

Detailed description Having thus :generally described the nature of theinvention particular reference will be made to the accompanyingdrawings, and in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View in perspective of a preferredconstruction of an apparatus according 'to the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus as shown in Figure 1 with asection of the top plate removed to show the arrangement of the colourdisks.

:Figur'e v3 is a plan view of the colour disks as they are arrangedwithin the casing.

Figure 4 'isa side elevation of the apparatus 'as shown in Figure '2with the cover plate and casing shown in section.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view mostly in side elevation partly insection of a portion of the apparatus illustrating the disk lockingmechanism.

Figure -'6Lis a diagrammatic view in plan elevation of the diskgearingand braking mechanism.

Figure "7 is an enlarged detail View partly in side elevation partly insection illustrating the construction of the lift mechanism.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of an alternative form of mechanismas may be utilized:

Figure 9 is an enlarged side elevation partly in section of theapparatus illustrated in Figure 8 and also showing in section therelative positions,

of cover plate and easing.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of Figure 9- along the line |0-| 0illustrating the connection of the brake rods to the lift piston.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of a portion of Figure 9illustrating in more detail the gearing and locking mechanism of awindin roll.

With particular reference to the drawings the preferred arrangementillustrated includes a casing l0 in which the apparatus is housed. Acover plate l2 fits on the casing I0 and is removably secured thereto bysuitable screws and washers l4. Included in this cover plate I2 is aviewing window l6 and Openings l8 and to accommodate the shafts of themanipulating control knobs 22 and a lift and brake control knob 24respectively. Radially-disposed spaced-apart indicating numerals areinscribed on the cover plate l2 about each of the control knobs 22 and agraduated density scale 25 is also provided with indicating numeralscorresponding to those surrounding the control knobs 22. The controlknobs 22 are provided with pointers 23 which are adapted to line up withthe indicating numerals on the cover plate l2 relative to the positionsof the colour disks contained within the casing as will be describedmore fully later.

The viewing window |6 is covered by a transparent disk preferably ofglass, which, while providing a solid face against which the disks arepressed for visual inspection, also protects the disks and innermechanism from dust and dirt.

Preferably this disk I1 is mounted on the underside of the cover plateI2, as is shown in Figure 7, and is retained in place by a recessedflanged plate I9 secured to the cover plate |2. In the constructionillustrated the opening 2| in the flanged plate I9 is smaller than theviewing window l6 and the annular portion of the plate l9 surroundingthe opening 2| is painted white, or provided with an inner ring of whitematerial.

This is to concentrate the View on the colours provided through thecolour disks as seen in the opening 2| through the viewing window l6 andto make them stand out in order to facilitate the matching of anoriginal colour.

The actuating and lifting mechanism of the apparatus is attached to andis removable with the cover plate l2. With particular reference toFigures 4 and 7 this mechanism is shown as being mounted between andsupported by an upper supporting plate 26 and a lower supporting plate28. These plates are spaced apart by spacersand bolts 30 and aresuspended from the cover plate |2 by the screws 32 engaged in the uppersup porting plate 26.

The upper supporting plate 26 includes an opening 34 through which alift piston or elevator 36 is adapted to pass and lift the selectedsegments of the colour disks to the opening 2| and the viewing window Itas will be described more fully later. The lift piston 36 travels in acylinder 38 which is mounted between the upper and lower supportingplates 26 and 28. The top of the piston 36 is preferably provided with aspecial head 31. This head is surfaced with sponge rubber or otherresilient material in order to form a flexible bearing surface which isadapted to bear against the portion of the disks raised into viewingposition so that they are squeezed so as to bow slightly into theaperture 2|. This is to eliminate possible undesirable effects, such asNewton rings. tending to impair the true value of the blended colour, asmay be caused if the disks were squeezed directly against the glass. Themain elements comprising the apparatus, namely; the colour disks, themeans for rotating the disks, the lifting mechanism by which the disksare raised for visual inspection,

and the cooperating braking mechanism will now be described separatelyand in more detail.

The colour disks With particular reference to the apparatus shown inFigure 3, four colour disks are used and are indicated by the numerals4|], 42, 44, and 46. Each of these disks include a round central portionthat is blank and a plurality of radially divided segments extendingfrom the central portion to adjacent the outer periphery of the disk.

The radially divided portion of each disk car ries one of the primarycolours, i. e., yellow, red, blue and black and each segment a, b, c,etc.,.is coloured to a graduated density of the particular colourcarried by the disk. Preferably one or more of the segments on each diskare left clear or transparent so that if in the blending of a compoundcolour, one of the primary colours is not required the disk bearing thiscolour is rotated till the blank or clear section is in register withthe viewing window It. The densities of colour as represented by thesegments of the disks are graduated to provide from 0% as represented bythe clear portions to or solid colour. For example; In the presentarrangement, the disk 46 is the black disk, and the segment a is clearor has a density of 0%. The next segment I) carries 10% density ofblack, the segment 0 20%, and on up to 100% which will. be segment 7cbearing a solid black colour. The other disks 40, 42 and 44 aregraduated and coloured in a similar manner.

In the apparatus shown the three upper disks are all made of atransparent material, for example: a cellulose film, with the bottomdisk of white paper with the colour preferably printed directly on itssurface. Cellophane (regenerated cellulose film) is one suitablematerial for this purpose. It is also contemplated that othertransparent materials, having similar characteristics, could beutilized, as for example, dye strip film positives. Each transparentdisk is reinforced about the outer periphery by a metal band 5| so thatthey will not curl or otherwise deform in shape, and is mounted forrotation on one of four shafts 48, 5!], 52 and 54. This is done by meansof a pair of disk mounting plates 53'. These are positioned one aboveand one below each disk and are pressed against the disk so thatrotation of the mounting plates 53 will also rotate the disk sandwichedtherebetween. Each of the mounting plates 53 include a centrallydisposed opening 55 of a slightly smaller diameter than the shaft onwhich it is mounted so that a press fit is made securing the mountingplates in position on each shaft.

In the apparatus illustrated the bottom disk 40 is yellow, the disk 42red, and disk M blue and the uppermost disk 46 carries segments ofgraduated densities of black to provide a grey scale.

rotation between the upper and lower supporting plates 26, 28 and the.ends of the shafts extend beyond the upper support '26 and through thecover plate I2 at which point the control knobs 22 are mounted andsecured for the rotation of the disks.

The disposition of the shafts and disks as shown in Figure 3 is suchthat a segment of each disk is overlapped in sequence by a segment ofeach of the other disks. This overlapping is arranged to occur centrallyrelative to the casing I and the cover plate I2 so that the overlappingsegments .are covered by and visible through the viewing opening IE.

Mounted on each of the shafts 48, 58, 52 and 54 adjacent the lowersupport plate is a toothed gear 58. These gears are in mesh with asecond set of gears 64 which are mounted on auxiliary shafts 66, 68,"Ill and 12. The auxiliary shafts 66, 68, I0 and T2 are rotatablymounted between the upper 26 and lower 28 supporting plates as is shownin Figures 4 and 5. A third set of toothed gears I4 are mounted on theauxiliary shafts 56, 68, and I2 and are adapted to be engaged by aseries of locking pins attached to braking lever arms.

Disk lifting and locking mechanism With particular reference to Figures5, 6 and 7, a bracket 84 is mounted on the lower supporting plate 28.Pivotally mounted on this bracket 84 .is a lift lever arm '86. One endof the lever arm :86 extends through a. slot 88 in the cylinder 38 tocontact the lift piston :36 and the other end is pivotally connected toa lift and braking control rod .90. The control rod 190 is slidablymounted in and extends beyond the upper supporting plate 26 to passthrough the opening 20 in the :cover plate I2. The control knob .24 ismounted on the protruding .end of the rod -90 which also includes anotch 9.2 adapted to engage the edge of the coverplate I2 and therebylock the rod 90 in position. Preferably a block 85 of sponge rubber orsimilar resilient material is positioned under the lift piston lever arm86. This is to provide a cushioning effect for the movement of the leverarm and the associated raising or lowering of the lift piston. A pair oflocking lever arms :80 and 82 are rotatably mounted -.on brackets 88 and98 secured to the lower supporting plate 28. These lever arms 80, 82 areresiliently connected by spiral springs 86 to the lever arm -86 and areadapted to be -actuated by movement .of the control rod .90. vLockingpins I 00 and I02 extend from the lever arms 88, 82 and are preferablymade of resilient spring steel to assure positive locking of both setsof gear trains and their associated .disks when the pins aresimultaneously actuated by their respective common lever arms. If thepins were made of non-resilient metal and by chance were not alignedperfectly with the teeth of the gears when the locking mechanism isactuated, it would be possible for one of the locking pins to ride ontop of the gear instead of engaging in the teeth and then the otherlocking pill carried on the same lever arm could not engage the othergear and no locking would take place of that particular gear andassociated disk. 'It is contemplated however, that the locking pins .'I00 and I02 could be positioned .at varying angles relative to thelongitudinal axis-of the lever arms 8 I so that the gear :trains andassociated disks 116-- mote from the control rod are locked po sitionbefore the gear trains and associated disks near the control rod. Thisvariance of engaging angle in the locking pins would ensure the engagingof the locking pins in the remote gears first and then by the torsion ofthe lever arms the near locking pins would engage and lock the neargears in position.

Alternative construction In the alternative construction shown inFigures 8, 9, l0 and. 11 the disks are replaced by bands of transparentfilm carrying the necessary primary colours. These bands are dividedinto sections, a, 1), etc, each of the sections treated to have adensity equal to a graduated percentage of the solid colour in a mannersimilar to the arrangement on the disks. In the apparatus illustrated,the bands and related mechanism are housed in a casing similar to thatas previously described housing for the disks. The cover plate andcontrolling knobs are also the same, the indexing scales and viewingwindow being located in the same relative positions. The main differencein this alternative arrangement is the colour bands themselves and themechanism employed, to -move them into and out of register with theviewing window. In the apparatus illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, thelowest band IIB carries graduated sections of yellow. band I 16 red,band III blue, and the "upper band II-4 graduated sections forming agrey scale.

The bands are moved into and .out of register with the viewing window bya series of rollers actuated by the turning of the control knobs 22. Thebands are arranged so as to have the one pair travelling transverselyacross the ap aratus and the other pair crossing over the first pair ofbands at right angles to their travel. Each pair of bands are actuatedin the following manner.

. A control knob I22 is attached to a shaft H8 which extends into thebody of the apparatus and is mounted between the-cover plate H2 :and anupper supporting plate I26. A bevel gear I20 mounted on the lower end ofeach shaft H8 is in :mes'h with a bevel gear I23. The bevel gear I23 ismounted on a shaft I24 forming the axle for a winder roll I2'I so thatrotation of the shaft I I8 in a counter-clockwise direction will causethe roll LIZ] to rotate and wind the band onto the roll. The band, forexample H4, is previously wound on a second spring tensioned roll I28connected to aspiral spring J32, and is passed across the apparatus ontothe winding roll III. The second band aI I6 of the pair is also actuatedin a similar :manner. The operation'of this band movin apparatus is .asfollows: As the band H4 is previously wound on the spring tensioned rollI28 the :unwinding of the band coils the spring 132 and when the knobI22 and associated shaft and gearing is rotated in aclockwise-direction, this tension is sufficient to rewind the bandontothe roll I28 and cause the band to move in direction opposed to thatas caused by the initial counter-clockwise move: ment. The shafts andassociated gears are arranged to have .a certain amount -.of friction soas to tcountera-ct any uncontrolled movement of the bands asmay becaused by thetension of'the prin s.

A lift arrangement similar to that used with the disks is also employedin the present apparatus, the main difference being in *the loo-operating locking mechanism. This. locking mechanism comprises a toothedgear I3I secured to each .of the axles of the winding rolls I21. Abraking pawl I34 is pivotally mounted in the supporting plate I26adjacent each gear I3I and is actuated into contact with the gears MI byan extended portion of the pawl I34 resiliently and slidably connectedto a lift piston I38 which is actuated by lever arm I86 in a cylinderI38 in the same manner as the lift piston mechanism of the rotatabledisk apparatus.

The second pair of bands III] and III are moved and retained in selectedposition in the same manner as described for the first pair and theindexing numerals and colour scale are substantially the same asemployed in the disk arrangement, with. the exception there is a stop atthe 0% on each dial to prevent over or reverse winding of the bands.

The sub-titles used throughout the specification are merely to simplifyreference thereto and should otherwise be disregarded.

1. A colour analyzing apparatus, comprising in combination, a housing, acontrol panel on the housing, a viewing window in the control panel, aplurality of moveable elements within the housing, each of said elementshaving a number of sections representing a relative percentag of densityof a particular colour superimposed on a transparent ground, therespective elements being so arranged within the housing so that onesection of each element overlaps a section of each of the other elementsin superimposed relationship in a field of View covered by said viewingwindow, means for moving each of the elements individually so that anyindividual section of one element may be placed in selective registerwith any one section of each of the other elements beneath the viewingwindow, means for raising the selected group of sections from theirnormal plane of travel to a position directly against said viewingwindow including a lift piston beneath the superimposed sections andadapted to be moved into viewing position to press said sectionstogether, viewfixing means above said control panel for moving said liftpiston into viewing position and means operatively connecting saidview-fixing means with said lift piston whereby said viewfixing means iseffective to move the lift piston into or out of viewing position, andindexing means on said control panel associated with said element movingmeans whereby the density value of each selected section of saidelements as arrelationship in a field of view covered by saidviewingwindow, means for moving each of the elements individually sothat any individual section of one element may be placed in selectiveregister beneath said viewing window with any i of one section of eachof the other elements,

10 means for raising the selected group of sections from their normalplane of travel to a position directly against said viewing window,elementcontrolling means associated with said lifting means andelement-moving means whereby any selected group of element sections maybe moved into and locked in position, and indexing means on said controlpanel associated with said element-controlling means whereby the densityvalue of each selected section of each of said elements as arranged toform a complex colour or shade may be read.

3. A colour analyzing apparatus, comprising in combination a housing, acontrol panel on the housing, a viewing window in the control panel, aplurality of transparent disks mounted for rotation on individual shaftswithin the housing, each of said disks having a number of radiallydivided segments representing a relative percentage of a particularcolour superimposed on a transparent ground, the respective disks beingcentrally mounted on individually spaced apart shafts so arranged withinthe housing so that one segment of each disk overlaps a segment of eachof the other disks in superimposed relationship in a field of viewcovered by said viewing window, means for rotating each of the shaftsindividually so that any individual segment of each disk may be placedin register with any one segment of each of the other disks beneath theviewing window, and individual indexing means for each disk on thecontrol panel associated with said disk moving means whereby the densityvalue of each selected segment of each of said disks as arranged to forma complex colour or shade may be read.

4. A colour analyzing apparatus, comprising in combination a housing, acontrol panel. on the housing, a Viewing window in the control panel, aplurality of transparent disks mounted for rotation on individual shaftswithin the housing, each of said disks having a number of radiallydivided segments representing a relative percentage of a particularcolour superimposed on a 4 transparent ground, the respective disksbeing centrally mounted on individually spaced apart shafts so arrangedwithin the housing so that one segment of each disk overlaps a segmentof each of the other disks in superimposed relationship in a field ofview covered by said viewing window, means for rotating each of theshafts individually so that any individual segment of each disk may beplaced in register with any one segment of each of the other disksbeneath the viewing window, means for raising a selected group ofsegments from their normal plane of travel to a position directlyadjacent said viewin window, and individual indexing means for each diskon the control panel associated with said disk moving means whereby thedensity value of each selected segment of each of said disks as arrangedto form a complex colour or shade may be read.

5. A colour analyzing apparatus, comprising in combination a housing, acontrol panel on the housing, a viewing window in the control panel, aplurality of transparent disks mounted for rotation on individualshafts-within the housing,

each of said disks having a number of radially divided segmentsrepresenting a relative percentage of a particular colour superimposedon a transparent ground, the respective disks being so arranged withinthe housing so that one segment of each disk overlaps a segment of eachof the other disks in superimposed relationship in a field of viewcovered by said viewing window,

means for moving each of the disks, individually so: that any individualsegment of each diskm'ay be placed in register with any one section ofeach of the other disks beneath the viewing, window, means for raising aselected. group of segments from their normal plane of travel to aposition directly adjacent said viewing window, controlling meansassociated with said disk lifting means whereby any selected group ofsegments may be moved into and locked in selected position, and indexingmeans on the control panel associated with said disk movingv meanswhereby the density value of each selected segment of each of said disksas arranged to form a complex colour or shade may be read.

6. A colour analyzing apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, in which themeans for raising. the selected group of segments from their normalplane of travel to a position directly adjacent theviewing windowcomprises, a lift piston slidably mounted in a cylinder within thehousing, a pivotally mounted lever arm' withinv said. housing adapted toactuate said piston, a control rod pivotally connected to said leverarm, andv controlling means on said control panel connected to saidcontrol rod whereby said piston is raised or lowered as required.

7. A colour analyzing apparatus as. claimed in claim 6, in which thecontrolling means associated with the lift piston comprises a. pair ofrotatably mounted lever arms mounted on brackets within.

said casing and being resiliently connected to said lift piston controlrod, a plurality of aux-' iliary shafts rotatably mounted in saidcasing, a first toothed gear mounted on each of said disk supportingshafts, a second toothed gear mounted on each of said auxiliary shaftsin meshed. contact with said first toothed gear, whereby actuation ofsaid lift control rod to raise said lift piston also rotates said leverarms into. engagement with said second toothed gear to lock. said gearsand associated shafts and disks in selected position.

8. A colour analyzing apparatus, comprising in combination, a housing, acontrol panel on the housing, a viewing window in the control panel, aplurality of flexible transparent bands mounted for movement within thehousing, each of said bands having a number of transverse sectionsrepresenting a relative percentage of a particular colour superimposedon a transparent ground, the bands being so arranged within the housingso that a section of each band overlaps a. section of each of the otherbands in superimposed relationship in a field of view covered by said.viewing window, means for moving each of the bands. individually so thatany individual section of each band can be placed in register with anyone section of each of the other bands beneath the viewing window, meansfor raising aselected group of sections from their normal plane oftravel to a position directly adjacent said viewing windowelement-controlling means associated with said lifting means andelement-moving means whereby any selected group of element sections canbe moved into and locked in position, and indexing means on said controlpanel as-- sociated with said band moving means whereby the densityvalue of each selected section of each of said bands as arranged toform. a complex colour or shade may be read.

9. A colour'analyzing apparatus, comprising in combination, a housing, acontrol panel on the housing, a viewing window in the control panel, aplurality of flexible transparent bands mounted for movement within thehousing, each of said bands having a number of transverse sectionsrepresenting a relative percentage of a particular colour superimposedon a transparent ground, the bands being so arranged within the housingso that a section of each band overlaps a section of each of the otherbands in superimposed relationship in a field of view covered by saidviewing window, means for moving each of the bands individually so thatany individual section of each band can be placed in register with anyone section of each of the other bands beneath the viewing window, meansfor raising a selected group of sections from their normal plane oftravel to a position directly adjacent said viewing window, controllingmeans associated with said band lifting means whereby any selected groupof sections may be moved into and locked in selected position, andindexing means on said control panel associated with said band movingmeans whereby the density value of each selected section of each of saidbands as arranged to form a complex colour or shade may be read.

10. A colour analyzing apparatus, as claimed in claim 9, in which. themeans for raising the selected group of sections from their normal planeof travel to a position directly beneath the viewing window comprises, alift piston slidably mounted in a cylinder within the housing, apivotally mounted lever arm within said housing adapted to actuate saidpiston, a control rod pivotally connected to said lever arm, andcontrolling means on said control panel connected to said control rodwhereby said piston may be raised or lowered as required.

11. A colour analyzing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which eachof the colour bands is mounted on and is. moved between a pair ofrollers, one of said rollers constituting a winding roll and the otherconstituting a resiliently controlled re-winding roll, each of saidwinding rolls being mounted on a horizontal shaft supported for rotationon brackets within the casing, a first gear on each of said horizontalshafts, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted in said casing adjacent eachof said horizontal shafts, a second bevel gear on each of said verticalshafts in meshed engagement with said first bevel gear, a control knobmounted on each vertical shaft outside of said casing, whereby rotationof said. control knob in one direction actuates said first and secondbevel gears and associated shafts to rotate said winding roll in onedirection, and

movement of said control knob in the other direction allows saidresiliently controlled re winding roll through said colour band torotate said winding roll in the opposite. direction. I

12. A colour analyzing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which the.controlling apparatus associated with the lift piston comprises, aplurality of pivotally mounted lever arms, each of said arms having a.resilient and slidable connection with said lift piston, and a toothedgear mounted on each of said horizontal shafts supporting the windingrolls of the band moving arrangement, whereby movement of the liftpiston actuates each Of the lever arms into engagement with each of thetoothed gears and so locks' 7 claim 1, wherein said means operativelyconnecting the view-fixing means with the lift piston is a pivotallymounted lever in operative: engage 2,522,723 p 13 14 v ment with saidlift piston, means normally re- REFERENCES CITED taining said lever innon-viewing position to clear said piston from said elements so thatthey can be freely moved, and the view-fixing means in- The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

eluding a control rod connected to the other end UNITED STATES PATENTSof said lever having a knob above the panel and 0 Number Name Datedetent means on said control lever for retaining 1,581,374 Young Apr.20, 1926 it in operative position. 2,120,499 Mackay June 14, 19382,196,271 Olson Apr 9, 1940 STANLEY M. ROOKYARD. 10 2,253,107 BrooksAug. 19, 1941

